A DASH TO THE TOP
Club caps improbable run to claim NWSL Challenge Cup crown
Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly hoists the championship trophy alongside her teammates Sunday as they celebrate their 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League’s Challenge Cup. Though it had no previous playoff appearances, the club leaves Sandy, Utah, with its first title.
After 90 minutes and a historic run through the NWSL Challenge Cup, the Dash sought a knockout blow Sunday.
It landed in the first minute of stoppage time when forward Rachel Daly flicked a pass ahead to Shea Groom to put Chicago on the backfoot. Playing high and desperate to make a stop, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher slid for the ball, but Groom kicked it ahead and coasted past her.
Groom angled her shot into the empty net, then turned and ran toward the Dash bench with her arms open like the wings of jet.
Improbably, the Dash are the NWSL Challenge Cup champions after defeating the Red Stars 2-0 on Sunday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. It’s the club’s first championship.
“It’s been a long five years, it’s been a difficult five years, but five years of this unbelievable club is worthwhile, and it paid off today,” Daly said. “It wasn’t luck. It wasn’t a fluke. We comfortably won that game.”
The story of a club with no previous playoff appearances winning a title starts with Daly. She was Houston’s talisman in the seasons before the coronavirus pandemic. She became Houston’s engine during the Challenge Cup — an eight-team competition by which each club advanced to the postseason, although several played without U.S. national team stars.
Daly jump-started the Dash attack in the fourth minute when she popped a chip pass out to Kristie Mewis, who raced down the near flank. Mewis streaked into the box, but defender Kayla Sharples dragged her
down as she turned the corner along the goal line and was called for a foul.
Daly entered Sunday’s final needing a goal or an assist to win the Golden Boot as the competition’s leading scorer. She’s also Houston’s primary penalty taker.
But on Sunday, she forwent a chance to win the Golden Boot — and the $10,000 reward that comes with it — and allowed veteran midfielder Sophie Schmidt to take the shot. Schmidt stepped up to the penalty dot, then coolly slotted the ball in the right side of the net as Naeher dove left for the Dash’s first goal.
Groom earned finals MVP for her performance, which included the goal on two shots.
Daly’s generosity was later rewarded when she was credited with the assist on Groom’s goal — giving her the edge over Groom and North Carolina’s Lynn Williams in the tiebreaker for the Golden Boot.
Daly, who had already been named tournament MVP on Saturday, and Groom were named to the NWSL’s Best XI of the competition, as were Chicago’s Julie Ertz and Casey Short.
“I think we’re such a special team this year,” Daly said. “I say this in every interview, but the depth and the strength of this circle is second to none.”
Houston’s championship run might surprise casual NWSL fans and observers, but second-year coach James Clarkson has spoken about his team’s potential since last year.
In June 2019, he expected Houston — the NWSL’s only club without a U.S. national team player — to assert itself while the league’s elite players competed in the World Cup in France. But the Dash were winless during the month-long window, finished seventh in the nine-team league and missed the playoffs, as they had in each of NWSL’s the previous five seasons.
“The difference last year was we got ourselves in some good positions and never progressed,” Clarkson said. “We conceded too many goals and didn’t score enough, so we had to make some tough decisions and some big decisions in the offseason.”
Those changes brought Groom and Bri Visalli to the attack. They secured the back with defenders Katie Naughton and Megan Oyster, who played through an injured rib Sunday to help the Dash post their third straight shutout.
Throughout the tournament, Houston’s growth extended beyond its scorers and standouts. Haley Hanson and Ally Prisock rotated into starting positions along the backline when necessary. Midfielder Christine Nairn netted a penalty kick to help defeat Utah in the quarterfinal. When Mewis left Sunday’s game in tears with a left hamstring injury in the 29th minute, CeCe Kizer stepped in and helped create chances.
Houston’s Challenge Cup mission was two-fold. It also sought to reshape its identity and perception.
The Dash hope a title will bring more high-quality players and, ultimately, more championships.
“These are exciting times,” Clarkson said. “Hopefully we can continue them, grow the fan base and really make Houston a destination that people want to come and play for, because this hopefully is the first of many.”